In the 11-year period of 2005 through 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 64% (232) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Monday, January 18, 2010

Mislabeling AlertUPDATE 01/18/10: Despite the Chicago Police Department identifying the dogs as pit bulls, director Cherie Travis is now intentionally misleading the media, the citizens of Chicago and the entire U.S. public by stating that the dogs are actually "mixed breed," but she couldn't name the breeds until further evaluation. Travis is clearly a pit bull apologist placing the "protection" of the pit bull breed at a higher priority than reporting the truth about the fatal attack of a human being.

DogsBite.org calls for the immediate dismissal of director Cherie Travis.

Other pit bull apologists are popping through the seams as well "to soften" the impact of pit bulls killing two American citizens in an nine-day period. Animal behaviorist Suzanne Hetts, who is quoted in the updated article, said that the "dog's breed" isn't the most important factor. "Usually it's a perfect storm situation, with a lot of things that lead up to the attack," Hetts said. Yet the only perfect storm in this incident is the documented, lethal genetic history of the pit bull breed.

01/18/10: Daughter "Stunned" by Fatal Attack
Authorities report that the victim's daughter, who remains unnamed, arrived Sunday night to find her father covered in blood and near dead. The medical examiner's office ruled following an autopsy today that Johnny Wilson died of hemorrhaging from multiple injuries from a dog attack. Other sources said the victim suffered massive head, chest and upper body trauma, including having both of his ears bitten off and at least one of his eyes mauled.

The daughter, who had been breeding the pit bulls, told investigators the dogs were afraid of her father because his "voice was loud." But neighbors said that Wilson never appeared to have any trouble with the dogs prior to the incident. Avantis Smith, 31, who lives next door to the family, said he had seen Wilson walking the dogs on his way to the bank in the past. Another neighbor, Ruffin Davis, 62, said, "They always obeyed him. I don't see any reason for them to attack him."

According to Smith, Wilson's daughter was "stunned" last night and could not explain what had happened. She was perhaps as "stunned" as Chester Jordan's and Raymond Tomco's daughters, both of whom had also been breeding pit bulls in the family home and returned one day to discover their fathers mutilated bodies after being attacked by the dogs. In total, Chicago Animal Care and Control seized four adult pit bulls and two pit bull puppies from the South Side home.

Cherie Travis, director of the Animal Care and Control office, told reporters, "Dogs don't normally attack people in their own homes, so there's a lot to investigate." This is the same distortion voiced by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) last year after two pit bulls first mauled their owner's son then mauled the owner. The truth is pit bulls are often in the news due to serious and sometimes fatal attacks upon their owners.

01/18/10: Man Killed by Daughter's Pit Bulls
Chicago, IL - In a developing story, police are investigating the death of a 56-year old man found dead with dog bites at a home in the Washington Heights neighborhood. Johnny Wilson was found with several bite marks on his body, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. The cause of death is unknown pending an autopsy by the medical examiner's office, but four pit bulls found at the residence were seized by animal control officials.

31 comments:

Donnie Brasco | 1/18/2010 8:15 AM | FlagCity leaders in Chicago, at one time, were considering BSL against pit bulls.

Ledy van Kavage, like a good politico/lawyer/lobbyist/pit bull lover, underhandedly had language placed into state law which takes away cities opportunity to prevent these tragedies (no city may create laws directed at a specific breed (pit bulls!) in Illinois)

It's time for the good people in Illinois to demand that their state lawmakers redact the law which prevents cities from regulating pit bulls.

Dee | 1/18/2010 12:02 PM | FlagPit bulls should be banned in the USA, why wait for state to state laws, follow U.K. lead and pass federal legislation to get rid of this hound from hell. Again, if this were a shark attack, we would hear about it on national news.

Anonymous | 1/18/2010 12:38 PM | FlagSo these were the victim's own dog's then? And again "bites". You don't die from a dog bite, this man was MAULED.

HonestyHelps | 1/18/2010 3:03 PM | FlagI'm awaiting a new program on the former Animal Planet, now known as the PFP channel (Pimping for Pits), known as "Play the Pit" game. The goal to winning is to see how many maulings and fatalities one can name caused by "other breeds" that can exceed those of the pit bulls. The only problem with this game is you can never win, just like owning a pit, you will be the loser every time.

P. | 1/18/2010 6:01 PM | FlagPit nutters place no value on their families lives so the answer to that question is obvious.

Anonymous | 1/18/2010 6:29 PM | FlagDid you see these comments on this news story?

"Becca on January 18, 2010 12:26 PM In response to the comment by "Mark on January 18, 2010 11:31 AM". I, too, am an Animal Control Officer and firmly believe that it doesn't matter how you raise them, it is the breed itself that is the problem.

I have been out on calls where people's beloved pets have been shredded to pieces by pits in front of them. I have been on calls where people have been trapped in their home and the pit is outside trying to tear the door down to get to them. I have seen an elderly woman's bloody arms after a pit bull attacked and killed her beloved Corgi. She beat the pit with piece of wood and was attacked by it. I had to respond to a 19 year old kid who was attacked by his own pit bull. His hand was "de-gloved" of its skin! It is NOT just a coincidence that they're pit and pit mixes. And it is not just the media reporting on pit attacks as I am the Officer who responded to the calls.

Yes, all dogs can bite but the pit has been destroyed by bad breeding. In the meantime, the government has a responsibility to protect people from them. They need to enact breed specific legislation as most owners won't bother having a quarter million in liability insurance on their pit unless forced to do so.

James Cherokee on January 18, 2010 12:30 PM Just because a pit bull is raised as a puppy in loving care does not mean that the breed itself is not a naturally aggressinve breed of canine. I'm a vet and have seen/heard stories like this many times. Case in point; a pit raised by a perfect caring family for 6 years sees a neighboring 4 year old girl running outside playing in HER yard, the dog busted through the screen and nearly killed her. I was treating a pit once and was great with people but almost tore my arm off as it tried to leap at a smaller dog. The fact is that these dogs despite some loving characteristics are VERY unpredictable regardless of upbringing or care. Poor bredding practices have also helped ruin this line of dogs. Those who challenge that German Shepards are equally as agressive are dead wrong. Shepards are a very intelligent and loyal dogs and upon proper care, will be as good and docile of a dog as a bassett. This is from an advice pamphlet in my office about choosing a dog; interesting how this is specific towards a specific breed of dog:

Unstable temperaments. American Pit Bull Terriers are a dime a dozen today, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs who can function in our society. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Pit Bulls with flat-out dangerous temperaments. It is difficult to find a responsible breeder when one has to sort through all the hype from macho breeders who boast about their dogs' "power" and "invincibility."

Extreme animal aggression. Most Pit Bull Terriers are aggressive toward other dogs. Many have strong instincts to chase and seize cats and other fleeing creatures, including deer and livestock. If anything goes wrong in the breeding, socializing, training, handling, or management of this breed, it is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals. "

Dobermans only killed 5 Americans during the 1970s...which the Nutters love to call "The Decade of the Doberman".

Anonymous | 1/19/2010 9:28 AM | FlagI would like to make a public plea to veterinarians, AC professionals, experienced dog trainers, and other dog experts who understand the current pit bull problem for what it is....a problem with the BREED. PLEASE do not remain silent. PLEASE speak up and speak out. I know several experienced "dog people" who compete in AKC events, they ALL agree that pit bulls have a genetic propensity for unpredictable aggression, regardless of how they are "raised and trained." These dogs are NOT being bred for stable temperaments, and some dog training clubs won't even allow them in.

PLEASE add your voices to the voices of victims, we need your help! People are dying,children are being disfigured, pets are being killed in untold numbers across this country. PLEASE post your experience on this blog, and on other public forums and message boards to rebut the lunatic fringe that has overtaken many humane organizations.

To those involved in rescue that understand the dangers posed by placing pit bulls in pet homes, PLEASE help educate the public! So many are being told that they can "love" a genetic trait out of a dog...please tell them the truth.

We desperately need your real life expertise to help counter act the organized lobbying efforts against us. Please step up!!

"Mark Romano on January 18, 2010 7:52 PM I have witnessed an attack by pit pulls that were raised in loving caring environment. My kids played with the dogs on a regular basis and I never ever saw the dogs show any sign of aggression. Then one day without warning they attacked and within the 30 seconds it took to pull the dogs off, they almost killed a four year old child. This breed’s genetic make up makes it a dangerous pet. The statistics are overwhelming. Unfortunately, it is obvious that may more people are going to be hurt or killed before people wake up. My advice is, choose another breed as a pet. If you’re or a loved one is a victim, push for the highest financial settlement you can get. It is the only tool that will wake people up as to the liability of this breed and prevent further injury or death."

Anonymous | 1/19/2010 10:39 AM | FlagAccording to Delise data, the "scary" dobermans only killed one American in the 1970s.

Chicago Police are not conducting a criminal investigation, a police spokesman said.---http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1998317,CST-NWS-pitbull19.article#

Anonymous | 1/19/2010 1:33 PM | FlagMy suggestion to ANYONE who doubts that pit bulls are the problem...google "German Shepherd Attacks" and "German Shepherd bites". You will get a small number of hits, around 70, some of which involve a pit bull attacking a german shepherd! Now google "pit bull attacks", and see what comes up. Over 2 million hits. There is no media conspiracy, the media often follows the police calls, and a dog attack is news if it is serious enough, and involves a call to AC or police.

Why this is even an issue is beyond me, the evidence is overwhelming that these animals are dangerous, its time to regulate them now!

No reports yet about any German Shepherds killing any pit bull anywhere on earth

Anonymous | 1/19/2010 5:15 PM | FlagSickening how the daughter is trying to defend the dogs by saying they were always scared of her father's voice. Pit nutters care more about their dogs than they do about their own families, clearly, or they'd never own a pit in the first place.

Anonymous | 1/21/2010 3:55 PM | FlagMy thoughts exactly - no one intentionally breeds mixed breeds except for designer dogs, and the father didn't die due to a rabid herd of cockapoos.

Here's another example: The crib broke, the parents fixed it with duct tape (?), and their kid dies. Their stupidity kills their child, yet all these cribs are recalled. http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Childs-Death-Prompts-Crib-Recall/RjOdCmVod0ifrFS5TVzPYA.cspx

Cherie Travis' friend Jeff Jenkins is ADOPTING OUT FIGHTING DOGS and putting them into homes

"UPDATE: Tom talked with Jeff Jenkins, who runs a training program for pit bulls--and their owners-- in some of Chicago's toughest neighborhoods, "turning" the dogs from fighters to good citizens (who are still plenty tough)."

Cherie Travis is a menace to society, and using animal control for the benefit of pit bull lobbyists.

So how long until these killer pit bulls get handed out to someone like Jeff Jenkins, who will put them in someone's home?

Cherie is already giving out pit bulls to Chicago Bully Breed Rescue according to her Facebook page.

How many of those dogs have bitten someone, or are dog aggressive? How long until Chicago gets sued?

Anonymous | 1/22/2010 1:00 AM | FlagI still feel sorry for the wayward cougar who stumbled into Chicago last year. The mayor mobilized the entire might of the city to destroy it. Poor Cougars don't have a $ multi-Billion underground economy supporting them!

Anonymous | 1/22/2010 12:07 PM | FlagI am cheering for the cougars -- I would rather see them in their natural habitat (the wild), than to see a pit bull in their natural habitat(fighting ring).

How is it an entire city knows the danger of a wayward cougar(who didn't hurt anyone) and reacts accordingly, but turns a blind eye to the pit bulls tearing the city's children and elderly to shreds?!

Anonymous | 2/09/2010 5:22 AM | FlagAnna's Law and Lillian's Law have proven to be complete failures.

M | 10/19/2010 10:45 AM | FlagWhen I take my sweet little Border Collie mix to the local dog parks I see almost as many Pit Bulls as Labs. They are everywhere. It has started to frighten me more than a little. My 6 month old pup was harrassed by a pit bull last time at the park and I had to stand over her and yell "NO" at the dog (probably not smart, but I was getting really worried about my dog). The owner was a 20 something girl, standing idly by, looking like she had no business trying to control a dog like that, if she decided to try that is. After my scolding her dog, she did quietly put him on the leash (not that it would have helped much with her holding it). Why is it that people WARN me constantly about the massive energy Border Collie's have but pit bull owners don't appear to get much warning about their dogs' genetic traits. No one would say my dog has lots of energy or trys to herd other dogs in play because she was "raised wrong", that sounds idiotic, it's her GENETICS. But pit bull genetics are pushed aside like that all the time. ESPECIALLY on Animal Planet. I am glad I found this site, though it scares me. I was starting to get drenched in the Koolaid myself since the pit bull "talking points" are all I hear from dog lovers and on TV.

This fella didn't see the reason because he obviously has no understanding of what this murderous dog breed is capable of. We need to stop the sugar-coated rhetoric of the pit bull lobby and relentlessly get the truth out about these murderous beasts. I have kids, and I pray to God that we don't get one of these sociopathic pit bull owners into our neighborhood.

vintage | 1/20/2012 4:22 AM | FlagInteresting comment about the Pit Breeders dogs who killed her father in 2010...

What is even more discusting is when someone is complaining about dogs that aren't immediately KILLED for KILLING!! In January there were pitbull dogs that killed a man and were not put down. This man was the owner of these dogs. He was killed and Cherie Travis let these dog live. I find that outrageous. These dogs are in someone's home and can kill again. How does she sleep at night knowing these killer dogs are out there?! She is willing to let killer dogs live but at the cost of a human being's life. And this is the head of ACC? The person that is suppose to protect the public

The executive director of Chicago's Animal Care and Control was fired and has been replaced with one of the department's former deputy directors, city officials said Saturday. Cherie Travis confirmed in an interview Saturday that she was fired Friday.